Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Tennessee Valley Authority: http://registry.faa.govTennessee Valley Authority Extravagant Executive Toys at Your Expense: http://blog.cleanenergy.orgNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A clean-energy advocacy group called for an investigation Tuesday after finding that the Tennessee Valley Authority bought two corporate jets, a luxury helicopter and another plane in recent years. The utility says its inspector general is already reviewing the matter.The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy focused on the 2015 and 2017 model jets, 2013 helicopter with a Mercedes-Benz upgrade trim and 2015 turboprop airplane. TVA says the aircraft were bought for about $35.3 million.TVA maintains that the planes and helicopters are necessary to meet customers and stakeholders and pursue economic development by attracting companies to the region.Alliance executive director Stephen Smith called the aircraft purchases “the very definition of corruption of the TVA mission.” The clean energy group did not specify who should investigate, but called for oversight from TVA’s inspector general and Congress.“Buying extravagant jets and helicopters is a hijacking of the TVA Act, whose stated purpose is to protect the residential customers, not buy flashy toys for millionaire executives or cut backroom deals with private industry,” Smith said in a news release.TVA executive vice president of operations Mike Skaggs said the inspector general review of its aircraft is underway. Other electric utilities similar to TVA have the same type of equipment, Skaggs added.“In most cases, the planes that others use that are our peers, are bigger and more expensive than the ones we use,” Skaggs said.TVA spokesman Jim Hopson said private aircraft are the only safe, timely option across TVA’s 80,000-square-mile, seven-state service area, which largely lacks commercial flights.Operating the modern jets costs just 7 percent more than the older turboprops, with improved safety and performance, Hopson said.TVA services Tennessee and parts of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, North Carolina and Virginia.The aircraft purchases drew criticism from others besides clean energy advocates.Debbie Dooley, who helped found the ongoing national Tea Party movement and is president of Conservatives for Energy Freedom, said the purchases show TVA CEO Bill Johnson needs to be replaced.Johnson, the highest-paid federal employee in the nation, receives a compensation package of more than $6 million, including retirement and other benefits. The TVA board has said Johnson’s pay is still low compared to salaries of utility executives not in public service.Elder Jimmie Garland, vice president of the Tennessee State Conference of the NAACP, said the findings show the need for independent oversight of the nation’s largest public utility.Skaggs said TVA’s fleet includes the two jets, a dozen helicopters of different types and the turboprop plane, which is no longer being flown and is waiting to be sold.Other TVA helicopters support inspection, maintenance and repairs of TVA’s 16,000-mile transmission system.TVA bought the used luxury helicopter for almost $7 million in 2015, Skaggs said.Since 2013, Skaggs said TVA has helped attract more than 330,000 jobs to its region and almost $40 billion worth of investment. He said the Mercedes-Benz helicopter helps TVA give companies a quick flyover and explanation of the electric rates when they are considering moving to the area.“The cost of the helicopter is great. It is a big expenditure.” Skaggs said. “But it’s a great capital investment.”
Original article can be found here ➤ https://www.seattletimes.com

HONOLULU - As a Blue Hawaiian Helicopter flew along the Na Pali coast Friday afternoon, a white drone hit the helicopter mid-flight. "You absolutely have to give the right of way to a manned aircraft. This is an FAA rule and it's something you have to do," said Alexey Volobuev. Volobuev is a Drone Pilot who teaches safety classes at Hawaii Drone Academy and Computational Thinkers. "Unfortunately people may buy a drone without really realizing the responsibilities they're also acquiring by acquiring a drone," said Volobuev. Officials at the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) said it is illegal for drones to fly at state parks. State statutes also outline severe penalties for those who operate drones illegally:"Chapter 184 Hawaii Revised Statutes: §184-5 Rules and enforcement; penalty. (b) Except as provided in subsection (c), any person violating this chapter, any rule adopted pursuant thereto, or the terms and conditions of any permit issued thereunder, in addition to any other penalties, shall be guilty of a petty misdemeanor and shall be fined not less than:(1) $100 for a first offense;(2) $200 for a second offense; and(3) $500 for a third or subsequent offense.§184-5.5 General administrative penalties. (a) Except as otherwise provided by law, the board or its authorized representative by proper delegation may set, charge, and collect administrative fines to recover administrative fees and costs as documented by receipts or affidavits, including attorney's fees and costs; or bring legal action to recover administrative fines, fees, and costs, including attorney's fees and costs; or payment for damages or for the cost to correct damages resulting from a violation of this chapter, any rule adopted, or permit issued thereunder.(b) The administrative fines shall be as follows:(1) For a first violation, a fine of not more than $2,500;(2) For a second violation within five years of a previous violation, a fine of not more than $5,000; and(3) For a third or subsequent violation within five years of the last violation, by a fine of not more than $10,000."Despite the penalties, DLNR officials said catching a drone user operating a device illegally is not easy."The likelihood of an enforcement officer or an official with state parks being where they are is very, very low, so enforcement is a tremendous challenge," said Alan Carpenter, Assistant Administrator for DLNR's Division of State Parks. Many drone users are willing to hike for miles, to capture a view from above. "A drone can essentially provide the ultimate selfie, and so that's what people are using them for to capture pictures of themselves in more and more extreme locations," said Carpenter. With more drones taking to the skies, Rep. Angus McKelvey (D- Lahaina) introduced legislation to form a drone task force through the Lieutenant Governor's Office. "A permanent working group would mirror what other states have done, as far as having all the stakeholders together constantly making recommendations and interfacing with the federal government," said McKelvey. McKelvey said it's still unclear who is supposed enforce the rules for drone use. "We don't know, I mean, is it the police department? Do we have the same issues as we do in the maritime environment, where if you're beyond the high tide mark, it's the state?" said McKelvey. Despite questions and confusion, one thing stakeholders know for sure is drones are here to stay. "We just have to learn how to coexist in the same airspace safely," said Volobuev. McKelvey's bill did not make deadline to pass first reading, but he said he plans to re-introduce the measure in the future. Story, video and comments ➤ http://www.kitv.com

The Federal Aviation Administration and the state Department of Land and Natural Resources have initiated an investigation into a report of a drone that struck a tour helicopter on Kauai.The collision reportedly occurred at about 1:45 p.m. Friday while the aircraft of Blue Hawaiian Helicopters was flying over the Napali Coast State Wilderness Park near Nuuolo.“There were no reported injuries to the pilot or passengers,” said FAA spokesman Ian Gregor in an e-mailed statement. “The pilot reported scratches on the aircraft belly but no significant damage.”The owner of the drone is unknown at this time.A representative at Blue Hawaiian Helicopters declined to comment on the collision.Original article can be found here ➤ http://www.staradvertiser.com

A Southwest Airlines flight was departing for San Jose from John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana when a fire was reported aboard the plane on Monday night, an airport spokeswoman said.The fire — which has since been put out — broke out on Southwest flight #2123, causing its emergency chutes to deploy, according to the airport. Evacuations slides were used to remove passengers and crew members from the plane, the airline said.It was reported at about 7:30 p.m., Deanne Thompson, an airport spokeswoman, said."A few minor injuries" were reported by the airport in a tweet, although officials have not released further information about those — only saying no one was taken to a hospital for treatment.No serious injuries were reported, according to a statement from Southwest Airlines.The flight was carrying 139 passengers and 5 crew members, airport officials tweeted. An hour after the fire was first reported, Southwest Airlines was still working on getting those passengers onto other flights the same night, Thompson said.However, as baggage for each passenger has to now be transferred onto other planes, Southwest has no exact time frame for when people would be ensured a replacement flight, she said.In a statement, the airline said its employees in Orange County were "working diligently" to make accommodations for passengers."We regret any inconvenience the event has caused," the airline statement read.

John Wayne Airport tweeted that the fire had been put out just before 8:00 p.m.

At the time the fire broke out, the plane was pushing back from the gate, Thompson said. It was located in the auxiliary power unit, which is a small engine in the rear of the plane.Soon after the fire was reported, the airline crew decided to evacuate passengers from the plane, the airport said in tweet.By 8:35 p.m., the airport tweeted that operations across its facility were "back to normal."Story and video ➤ http://ktla.com

Heliwild Investments LLC: http://registry.faa.gov/N338HWNTSB Identification: GAA18CA12714 CFR Public AircraftAccident occurred Monday, February 12, 2018 in Heber City, UTAircraft: HUGHES 369, registration: N338HWNTSB investigators will use data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator, and will not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.Rotorcraft experienced wildlife rotor strike.Date:12-FEB-18Time:22:53:00ZRegis#:N338HWAircraft Make:HUGHESAircraft Model:369DEvent Type:ACCIDENTHighest Injury:NONEAircraft Missing:NoDamage:SUBSTANTIALActivity:UNKNOWNFlight Phase:UNKNOWN (UNK)City:HEBER CITYState:UTAHSALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The case of an elk that died after it leapt in the air and brought a low-flying research helicopter down in Utah highlights the use of helicopters in wildlife monitoring, which has been criticized by animal-rights groups but praised as effective by wildlife managers.The sound of the chopper blades and the wind kicked up by the helicopters can be terrifying for animals, said Jennifer Best with the group Friends of Animals."They're loud and they're scary and it's dangerous to the various wildlife that's impacted, and, as this demonstrates, can also be dangerous to the personnel who are operating the helicopter," she said.She called for the use of less-invasive monitoring tools, like cameras or video monitoring.The helicopter crew was trying to capture the elk with a net to fit it with a tracking collar before the Monday crash in the mountains about 90 miles (145 kilometers) east of Salt Lake City.Wildlife officials said it was a fluke accident during an otherwise by-the-book operation. The two people on board were not seriously hurt, but the elk died after jumping into the chopper's tail rotor.The helicopters are the best way to reach remote wildlife, and the tracking collars placed on elk gather the most detailed information on animals so managers can keep herds healthy, said Mark Hadley with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.That information is used to determine the number of hunting licenses the state can offer and minimize interactions with farmers, he said. The animals are not threatened or endangered in Utah.The state captures more than 1,000 animals a year and the vast majority are unaffected by the procedure, he said. Crews use nets rather than tranquilizer guns on elk because they don't respond well to the drugs.It's illegal for private helicopters to chase wildlife in Utah, but Hadley said crews contracted by the state crews are highly trained and know how to get in and out quickly to minimize any disruption to the animals, he said.Most of the division's work is paid for from hunting and licensing fees.Wildlife groups are also objecting to a plan to use helicopters to monitor mountain goats and bighorn sheep in another part of Utah designated as wilderness area. Kirk Robinson of the Western Wildlife Conservancy said the main concern is that aircraft would disrupt the untouched quality of the area, but the crash also highlights concerns about the dangers of helicopters in mountain terrain, where cleaning up any debris would be a big challenge.Wild-horse advocates have long opposed use of helicopters in roundups intended to shrink the size of herds that federal land managers say are overpopulated in many parts of the West.They say the sound and wind created by the machines terrifies and can injure the horses. But most judges have sided with federal land managers who say the helicopters are efficient and the risks are low.http://www.heraldcourier.com

WASATCH COUNTY, Utah – Authorities are investigating after an elk brought down a helicopter in Wasatch County.According to the Jared Rigby with the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office, authorities received a distress signal from the aircraft at about 4:30 p.m. Monday.Search and rescue teams and Fruitland EMS responded to the remote area near the Current Creek Dam.“A helicopter crew was in the process of capturing Elk for the state of Utah,” Wasatch County Search and Rescue wrote. “The cow elk somehow jumped up and hit the tail rotor of the chopper. This almost severed the tail rotor and ended the flight of this chopper.”The two people who were aboard the helicopter suffered minor cuts and bruises.The helicopter is a total loss.“Not something you see every day when an Elk brings down a chopper,” search and rescue wrote.The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources has been tracking the migration patterns of the elk and contracted the pilots.DWR officials said the elk did not survive the incident.http://fox13now.com

FRUITLAND, Duchesne County — A pilot and passenger from Australia sustained only small cuts and bruises when an elk jumped and severed the tail rotor of their helicopter Monday evening near Currant Creek in Wasatch County.The pair was attempting to net the animal, Wasatch County Search and Rescue said on Facebook.Few details were immediately released, and it was not clear how the elk fared. First responders from Fruitland evaluated the two aboard the helicopter."Not something you see every day when an Elk brings down a chopper," the rescue group wrote in the Facebook post.The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources was investigating.Story, video and photo gallery: https://www.ksl.com

A two-seat airplane made in Florina, northern Greece — a labor of love for a retired Greek policeman turned designer — is ready for the marketThis is the third aircraft designed and made by Giorgos Iliopoulos, according to the Athens Macedonian News Agency’s Radio 104.9.The first two were ultralight, one-seaters and the second in order, Archon (Lord) was successful and was registered in Italy to be manufactured there.The new model, the Atairon VIP which seats two, was constructed in Florina and is ready to go to the production stage.Iliopoulos, however, is not an aircraft engineer, nor a mechanic. He is a former police officer, who managed with passion, perseverance and imagination to give this project life.“I tried to design an aircraft without the disadvantages of other models of this category that have been established in the market.“I studied all the disadvantages I experienced as an operator and trainer, and I wanted to give it better standards, be more spacious, more efficient, more economical and beautiful,” Iliopoulos told 104.9.Atairon VIP took 16 months to build. In December it started its test flights. “In the Spring, they can start regular flights and logically go out on the market… It’s name Atairon means the one who is without match.”Iliopoulos — pilot, instructor pilot and president of the Aero Club of Florina — began to collect, data and information on aircraft construction in 1981.“With Archon, I followed all legal construction requirements and regulations. I discovered something completely random, a way to fly better with this shape, a funnel that gave it momentum. It came first in its class and from there it took its name, “Archon”, leader, leader in its category,” Iliopoulos said.“Our country does not have an industrial, craft and export perspective. I had to register in Italy, not in my country,” he added.Story, video and photo ➤ http://greece.greekreporter.com

Butte’s new $10.5 million airport terminal will get its public debut Thursday and anyone is welcome to check it out during an early evening ribbon-cutting ceremony.Operations and security screening won’t start until the following week, so people can take in the entire 27,000-square foot building from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday. It is located at 101 Airport Road off of Harrison Avenue. “People can get in and mill around,” Airport Manager Pam Chamberlin said Monday. “It looks spectacular.”Local officials, airline representatives and members of the Airport Authority and Butte-Silver Bow Chamber of Commerce will be on hand, she said. Montana’s congressional delegation has been invited, too.Dave Palmer, Butte-Silver Bow’s chief executive, will be among those giving remarks, and refreshments will be served.Most of the project was funded with federal dollars but Butte-Silver Bow County kicked in $1 million from an economic development trust fund. Construction began in August 2016 so the project was completed in about 17 months.The makeover of Bert Mooney Airport actually goes back to 2011, when three years of work started on milling and repaving the runways. In 2015, the parking lot was completely redone with 50 new spaces added.The terminal was designed to give people, especially first-time visitors, a great first impression of Butte. Glass all around gives expansive views of Butte, the East Ridge and other nearby mountains. When the old terminal next door is torn down, people will get a great view of the Highlands too.The lead architect on the project was Butte native Paul Powers, who has led design, renovation and expansion efforts at 38 airport passenger terminals across the U.S.This terminal’s features include a headframe entrance, mining-timber woodwork and skylights and portals to let daylight in.Equipment and materials from the old terminal will be moved to the new one next week and operations from there should start with the first flight out next Wednesday, Feb. 20, Chamberlin said.Although the terminal is primarily for passengers, the airport is served by Delta/SkyWest, Butte Aviation and Life Flight, as well as several rental car companies.It also accommodates recreational flying and parachuting, corporate and business activity, aerial firefighting, military exercises, search and rescue and flight training, among other activities.
Original article can be found here ➤ http://mtstandard.com